Inter's Materazzi apologises for taking penalty

MILAN, May 11 (Reuters) - Inter Milan defender Marco Materazzi has apologised for taking and missing a penalty in Sunday's 2-2 draw at home to Siena.

The Serie A leaders would have won the title with a victory but are now just one point ahead of second-placed AS Roma with one round of matches left next weekend. Inter visit relegation-threatened Parma and Roma go to struggling Catania.

With regular penalty taker Zlatan Ibrahimovic out with a knee injury, Materazzi argued with team mate and main striker Julio Cruz over who should take the 78th-minute spotkick, which was easily saved by Siena keeper Alex Manninger.

"I'm sorry, I should have let Julio take it and I've apologised to him. Now we need to pick ourselves up and think about Parma, it will be like a final," the Italy centre back told Sky.

Inter coach Roberto Mancini, whose side had an 11-point lead in February, was not amused.

"Marco should not have taken the penalty. But maybe Cruz would have missed it too," said the 43-year-old, whose position is under threat according to some media reports which say former Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho is wating in the wings.

Inter fans packed the San Siro hoping for a title party but around 200 of them stayed on to protest as the team coach left after the match.

"Get back to work," media reports quoted them as chanting.

(Reporting by Mark Meadows, editing by Padraic Halpin)